Times are very uncertain right now. The coronavirus pandemic has brought forth plenty of changes for which many of us have had to grapple with and eventually adapt to—from wearing a mask and face shield every time we leave our homes, working from home, limiting social interactions, to experiencing lockdowns.
Days before these lockdowns, most people scramble to go to the supermarkets to stock up on food, toiletries, and other essentials necessary to sustain themselves while staying at home. Although the government strongly urges the public to avoid “panic buying”, a lot of us still fall into the trap of doing this.
To refrain from doing this, you’ll have to strip your purchases down to the bare essentials. What do you really need to have during a lockdown? Below are items you should be adding to your grocery cart:
Canned Goods
There’s a reason why canned goods are so popular in times of calamities. For one, canned items have a longer shelf life. Second, they’re portable and easy to consume. These range from tuna, corned beef, ham, beans, and soups to cooking aids like cream, pasta sauce, mushrooms, and coconut milk.
Our tip: Buy a handful of these as they will be your go-to food in case your perishables run out.
Dry Staples
Rice, pasta, instant noodles, and coffee also make it to this list. You can practically whip up several dishes using rice or pasta, which keeps your family’s meals interesting throughout the lockdown. Like canned goods, these dry staples are easy to store and can be consumed at pace because of their very long shelf life.
Frozen Food and Meals
There will be times during the lockdown when work is overwhelming and you won’t be able to prepare a meal for the family. In cases like this, it’s wise to grab some of these frozen items during your grocery run. You can easily just pop these meals in the oven for those days when you don’t have the time to whip up a dish in the kitchen.
On the same note, you should also buy frozen fruits and vegetables so you still have a supply of these when you’ve consumed all your fresh produce.
Fruits and Vegetables
During lockdowns, it’s pretty unavoidable for your diet plan to have a mix of instant and home-prepped meals. Although, as much as possible, you would still want to eat healthy food that contains all the vitamins and nutrients your body needs. Just make sure to store these inside the freezer or refrigerator to maintain their freshness.
Meat, Fish, Bread, and Dairy Products
Meat, bread, and dairy products are likewise essential food to maintain a balanced diet for the duration of the pandemic. It would be quite helpful to plan ahead and have an idea of the meals you’re going to prepare for the family in the next days.
Since these products have the tendency to expire or spoil easily, be mindful of when you’re going to use them. Ideally, these must be consumed ahead of the tinned foods.
Medicine
If you’re on maintenance medication, it’s very important that you buy yourself everything you need before the lockdown starts. To avoid running out of your essential medications, it’s wise to stock up with at least a month’s worth of them.
Aside from that, over-the-counter medicines like cold, fever, or cough medicines should be present in your home in case you become sick.
Toiletries and Household Items
Make sure you don’t forget to buy soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toilet paper, sanitary napkins, diapers, and other bath essentials. Cleaning products like alcohol, disinfectants, and dishwashing liquids are also important in ensuring the cleanliness of your home and preventing the spread of germs or viruses.
Of course, you also have to take into account trash bags and laundry detergents for your clothes. Just note that some supermarkets across the country put a cap on the number of items each customer can purchase for every type of product, so only take as much as you need.
Pet Food
If you have pets at home, you also need to stock up on pet food and treats. Remember, they consume nearly as much as you do in a single day so it’s inevitable for pet supplies to run out fast in your household especially during a lockdown.
Not only will this ensure that your beloved pets are well-fed, but also buying these items for them can make them really happy. Besides, it’s not just humans who experience the stress from staying indoors for too long.
Now that you know what essential items to buy before a lockdown, you can stay safe and stay Smart. Amid the ongoing pandemic, haphazard and unsystematic panic buying won’t do you any good. Even when it’s hard to anticipate when the government is yet to impose another week (or month) of lockdown, it’s really best to have a plan for yourself and your family.
